The Sun. — London, England, 1864-05-10 00:00:00

ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. wader the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Crowded with rank and fashion.— The greatly successful new Comedy every Evening. Amongst the artists engaged will be found the popular names of Mr. Benjamin Webster, Mr. Charles Mathews. Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. P4ul Bedford, Mr. F. Robinson. Mr, Ashley ; Mrs. Chas. Mathews, Miss Herbert, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, Miss Patti Josephs, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling. - EVERY EVENING, at 7, a Farce, with a new sensation, called SHAKE HANDS : Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Ashley. Mr. Johnstone ; Miss Fanny Josephs and Miss Patti Josephs. , - At a quarter before 8, the successful new Comedy, by L. Radom2, - ham, Esq., entitled TtiE SILVER LINING: Ivir. Orarles Mathews, Mr. F. Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr. Montague; Ars. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling. - - At 10, OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND. Mr. Charles Mathews and Mrs. Frank Aatthews. To oonclude with UNDER THE ROSE. Commence at 7. ______ To-morrow, WEDNESDA.Y,3I;;;I, will b? produced THE FOX CHACE, a new Comei y, by Dion B ouc icault, Esq., in which Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews will appear, and Miss Henri( ftta will make her first appearance. R OYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, ON AND OFF. Followed by ORANGE BLOSSOMS. Alter which (12th time) 3IAZOURK A. Messrs. Holley, Turner, ac. ; Marie Wilton, :•,•impson, To conclude with TURN HIM OUT. Commence at 7. GRAND FETE at CHISWICK. on BEHALF of POLAND. Ladies of Poland of all rinks having offered various articles of Jewellery for the Benefit of their SiCK and Wounded count rymen, her Grace the Duchess owager) of sutherland has kindly permitted that the sale of these objects should take place at her residence, Chiswick House, On FRIDAY and SATURDAY, 20th and 21st May, 1864. Each day from Two o'clock to Seven p.m. The Stalls will be presided over by the following Ladies : Her Grace Duchess Dowager Toe Viscountess Sandon. of Sutherland. The Viscountess Grey de The Marchioness Town shend. Wilton. The Marchioness of Water- The Lady Rendlesham. ford. I The Lady Stanley of Alderley. The Countess of Charlemont. The Lady Kinnaird. The Countess of Shaftesbury. IThe Lady Louisa Wills. The Countess of Airlie. The Lady Taunt on. The Lady Constance Gros- The Lady Elizabeth Romilly. ven or. , Mrs. W.,shingtou Ilibbert. The Viscountess Palmerston. ' Mrs. John Leslie. The Viscountess Jocelyn. I I Sirs. Goschen. The Viscountess Ingestre. Admission—FlVE SHILLINGS. Entrance by the Turnham Green Lodge. _ _ _ Tickets to be had at the Polish Association, 10, Puke street, St. James's ; at Mr. Mitchell's, Royal Libr.ry, 33, Old Bond-street; at Mons. Jallen's, 214, Regent-street; and a.,„ Entrance, Turnham Green Lodge. Established 1837, B RITANNIA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY 1, Princes-street, Bank, London. Empowered by,Special Act of Parliament, 4 Viet. cap. 9. Every description of Life Assurance business transacted. ANDREW FRANCIS, Secretary. BONNEVS SILKS a LYON. --Every Article of commerce takes its title either from the diuctionnventor the or manufacturer, and the more perfect the pro grater is the credit which attaches to the originator. BONNET'S SILKS are said to be incapable of identiflca- Jon in England ; but the fallacy of such an assertion is ex ost d by the very trade mark of the firm, as exhibited by Messrs. JAY, of Regent-street. The following interwoven mark may be seen at the end ofeach piece :—" Manutacture de C. J. Bonnet et Cie., a Lyon e a Injurteux." Wear guaranteed. MEM DERBY.—RACE GLASSES (the best), lat CALLA.GI AN 'S, 2sA, New Bond-street. W., corner of Conduit - street. N.B.—Sole agent to Voigtlander, Vienna. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, Covent-garden. From this time until the end of the season there will be four Opera nights in each week, viz., every Monday, Tuesday, Th u rsday. and r.. , atiirday. Mille. Adelina Patti ; Signor R,nconi ; Signor Mario. THIS EVENING (TUESDAY), May will be per formed, for the second time this season. itossini's Opera, IL BA.R.BIERE DI SIVIGLIA. Rosins, Mdlle. Adelina Patti, her second appearance this season ; Bertha, Mdme Tagliafico ; Figaro, Signor Ronconi, his second appearance this season ; Bartolo, Signor Ciampi, his second appearance this season ; Basilio, Signor Tagliafico; Koren°, Signor Polonini ; Sar gcnte, Signor Rossi ; and Almaviva, Signor Mario. Conductor, Mr. Costa. Commence at half past Eight. Pit tickets, 7s. ; amphitheatre eta Is, 10s. &L, 75., and 55.; amphitheatre, 28. 6d. Boxes, stalls, and tickets may be had at the box-office under the portico of the theatre, which is open from ten to five, and at the principal musicsellers' and librarians'. THEATRE ROYAL DRUR Y-L AN E. Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, AN APRIL FOOL. Mr. G. Belmore. Alter which, will be produced the Grand Stage Revival of Shakspere's Chronicle or Historical Play, entitled the First Part of _ _ HENRY THE FOURTH. The cast will include impersonations by those eminent trtists, Mr. PFIICLPS, Mr. Walter Montgomery, Mr. Walter Lacy, Mr. Mr. Ryder, Mr. Robert Roxby, Mr. Barrett, Mr. E Phelps, Mr. Rayner, Mr. H. Vandenhoff, Mr. Belmore, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. Fitzjames, Mr. Neville ; Miss Edith Wynne, M ss Rise Leclercq, Nnd Mrs. Edmund Fal coner, supported by all the Members of the Drury-lane Ccm pany. Concluding with MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS. THEATRE ROYAL HAYNIARKET.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, AN UNLUCKY MORTAL. Mr. Wm. Farren and Miss M Harris. After which, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Sothern, Chippendale, Buckstone. Rogers, Clark, W eathersby, &c. ; Mesdames Snowden, Nell) , Moore, Fitzwilliam. After which, the new Easter piece, entitled VENUS AND ADONIS. Messrs. Compton, Wm. Farren, Coe. Arc.; Mes dames Louise Keeley, Snowden, Nelly rower, Hill, Wright, Ito2,ers, Acc. To conclude with A KISS IN THE DARK. Commence at 7. ROY AL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. In consequence of the Rehearsals necessary for the com plete production at HAMLET, and the immense prepara tions requisite for the New Scenery, painted by Mr. W. Telbin, it is deemed necessary that the Theatre should be CLOSED until SATURDAY, May 14th, when will •be pre sented Shakespeare's HAMLET. Hamlet, Prince of Den mark, Mr. Pechter. Box Office open daily from Eleven o'clock till Five, ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, DONNA DIANA. Messrs. Vining, rmann Vezin, .nelson, D. Fisher, ac.; Mesdames Hermann Vezin, C. Carson, dte Atter which, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. The Two Dromlos, by the Brotheri Webb. • To conclude with DRAWING-ROOMS, SECOND FLOOR, AND ATTICS. EW THEATRE-ItO YAL, ADELPHL -Bole Proprietor and Manager. M. B. Webster. Last Week but four of the Great Tragediene, Miss Bateman, in the character of LEAH. THIS EVENING,an apropos Sketch, SHAKEiI'EARE'S DOUSE: Messrs. J. L. Toole, kl. Phillips, Stephenson. Af er which, at 8, LEAH : Miss Bateman, supported by 3lessrs. A. Stirling, IL Phillips, Biliingtun, Stuart, Eburne, Stephenson ; Miss 11. Simms and airs. To e.;nclude witti TILE AREA BELLE: Messrs. J. L. Too:e, P. Bedford, tt. 'tomer, Miss Woolgar, and Jirs. IL Lewis. Commence at 7. ISS BATEMA N.-1, EA H.—THla EVENING and EVERY EVENING.—Miss Bateman will appear in her great impersonation of the Jewish ma den until further notice. in order io give due effect to t.ds most remarkable success of the season, eal ire ly new scenery by the celebratea artists Messrs. 'Janson and Sons, and Thompson. New dr, sscs and appo ntments have been prepared for its production.—N. is. in consequence of the *lressing and numerous applications as the Box-otll.:e, ar angement6 have Low been made by which Seats m y be ob tained a Fortnight in Advance. COALS. —The LILL co. .SHALL COMPANY'S .L Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis' 248. per ton. I Double.. 20a. per ton. Top 234. „ N uts... .. lBa. „ Deep ...... 21s. „ Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots. Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke Terms cash. - JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent. THE TillitD EDITION OF " I:HE SUN," .1L Containinz the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, Pin be had Every Evening of G. ft. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, NO. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde -park. The Weather—Sun Office, May 10, 1864. THERMOMETER. This day at Two o'clock .................... 52 Barometer-29.8 2 . Wind—N.w ; light breeze, and fine. HIGH WATER, A.T LONDON BRIDGE. THIS Dilt.—Morning, 4h. 44m.—Afternoon, s h. sm * ro-moßaow.-Morniafg, sh. 25m. Afternoon, 511. 44m. ^ATf • 3 / 4 .;• Sun, 6;* THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1864 LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1864. There are some people who never learn by ex perience, or take an unwelcome truth to heart. If their measures are rejected they begin ag a i n , nothing daunted, rcco ninence their work, and, no matter huw unpalatable may be their propo s i. Lions or how unwelcome their suggestions, th e patine mast perforce undergo the infliction of having them thrust upon their notice ad nauseam. Of this class is Mr, SOMES, who, with mistaken zeal and misguided judgment, employs persistency worthy of a better cause in advocating the adoption of his extreme views with regard to Sunday sale of beer. It was thought by most persons of ex. perience that this vexed question was definitively &tided and permanently settled last Session, and very general satisfaction was universally expressed at the unmistakeable censure which the House passed on such a proposal. No one can possib;y tall, however, to what foolish extremes people will go when they have got a crotchet in their heads, and especially when this relates to matters of religious prejudice and invokes the influence of peculiar tenets to bear upon it. It is in every way a subject for rejoicing that the bill has been Sum marily rejected by the House and its introduction not perrr itted. It is to be hoped that this decided step in the right direction will produce its effect ,• and deter Mr, SOMES and his friends from again taking up the time of the House in bringing forward such unwise and unpopular measures before Par liament. It is always a very imprudent thing to make changes that press upon the lower classes in an inconvenient form, and give rise to angry dis cussions, and create dangerous comparisons as to the different working of the social system respect ing the rich and poor; all such disputes are most injurious and injudicious, and no right-judging and experienced statesman would think of voluntarily raising such a discussion, and allowing the worst suggestions of the evil-disposed members of the community to influence those who in calmer mo ments would disarm them, but who, irritated by ' injustice and fretted by the vexatious introduction of petty annoyances and unfair restrictions, will be induced to take an extreme view of the question, and almost persuade themselves that there is no care or consideration for their comforts among the upper and superior middle classes. Sir GEORGE GREY met this question in a very proper spirit, and the tone he took evidently produced a great effect upon the House. It was very desirable that the government should take a decided stand upon the question, and declare in no meagre manner, and with no stinted phrases, its unqualified oppo sition to so ill-timed and mischievous a proposal. The right hon. baronet very properly said that if the House assented to the introduction of this measure it would be certain to be rejected on the second reading, and meanwhile the time between the first and second readings would be filled up with angry discussions. This was very true, and it would be well if so much consideration were more generally exhibited when these exciting questions come before the House. As it is, no harm has been done; but if the discussion of the sub ject bad been left in doubt, and the matter re mained in abeyance, the consequences would have been that many might have misunderstood the case, and confused the assent of some with the withheld expression of dissent of others, and thus the most disastrous effects might have been pro duced. Fortunately, by skill and promptitude, all chance of each a misconception has been avoided, and a decided veto put upon the proposed scheme. There was great truth in the remark of Sir G. GREY, that to introduce another measure of this sort would be "unwise, inexpedient, and unne cessary." Mr. ROEBUCK. delivered one of his slashing speeches on this question, which elicited considerable laughter from the racy manner in which he drew his comparisons of the inconsis tent manner in which this bill would affect the rich and poor. It is quite justifiable to take these reformers of existing abuses to task for their great unwillingness to interfere with the privileges of the rich, and their reticence in curtailing their luxuries, and unnecessary employment of time as regards themselves and others in secular pursuits on Sunday. Mr. ROEBUCK came out in his pecu liar style of irony, when he exclaimed chat if the advocates of this measure were consistent, they would proceed much further on the track upon which they had entered. " Not only would they shut up the Star and Garter at Richmond, and the Trafalgar at Greenwich, but they would also shut up every Club in London." Sometimes more may be done in overthrowing a scheme by taking up the fallacies of its construction in a tone of raillery than by arguing them out in dull and tedious detail, and descanting upon them in a dreary wilderness of words. Mr. ROEBUCK'S dashing • charge swept the enemy out of the field, and it will be well for both parties concerned in the discussion, and for the public at large also, if due heed is paid to the ad vice and weight attached to the wisdom that lurked. under the sallies and sarcasms of the speech of the hon. member for Sheffield. There can scarcely be two opinions as to the im perative necessity of introducing some change into the administration of our County Courts, after the Lord Chancellor's lucid statement on Friday evening, although there may possibly be some difference as to matters of detail. There has long been considerable dissatisfaction felt regarding the working of these acts, which were designed partly in mitigation of the severity of the then existing I,w of imprisonment for debt, but which have since become vehicles of the most ruthless oppression, especially towards the very poor. Few persons in the metropolis are at all aware of the hardships which they are often the means of bringing upon the labouring classes in the provinces. Lord 'WEST BURY, who has been at some pains to colleot accu rate information on these points, gives us some statistics that are positively starling. We learn that in the two years ending with last December, 17,979 persons were committed to prison by these courts, and that the number of days which they actually spent in prison was 257,251. Of those per sons, the large number of 17,850 were committed on the ground of not having satisfied the judgment and costs, having no means to do so. Many persons are under the impression that the full powers of the County Courts are seldom exercised, and that the imprisonment is merely a verbal threat. Such a notion is evidently most incorrect, and the hard ship of the case is redoubled when we reflect upon the class and occupation of these prisoners and the amount of their liabilities. They are, for the most part, artisans and agricultural labourers, and the sums for which they were imprisoned were very frequently of no higher value than one or two shil lings. In one instance, indeed, a man was com mitted for several days for ninepence! The objections which are made to imprisonment for debt among the higher classes apply with tenfold force to men in such a sphere of life who have no possible means of payment but those to be provided by the labour of their own hands. Although it may be urged that the power of the County Courts is limited, it appears that the judge is able to imprison for 40 days any debtor who may appear to have contracted the debt without reasonable expectation of being able to discharge it. Furthermore, such imprisonment is no acquittance of the debt, but the creditor has the right of putting in an execution as if there had been no imprisonment. The cir cumstances under which the small debts which thus eventually ruin a poor labouring man and break up his house are often Peculiarly painful. According to a statement made by the judge of a large district in Wales, the tally system is extensively carried on by travelling packinen, who often induce the Rife and daughters to buy articles at three times their value without the knowledge of the husband, and when the payments fall into arrear, as they are constantly doing, the packmen does iais business on a large scale, and takes out his judgment sum' menses in great numbers. This statement is con armed by another judge in Lancashire, who adds rhat this state of things often produces much do. 'nestle misery, as the wife keeps the affAir secret until the creditor comes forward and Comands the money from the husband, who ir eque :illy beats his wife, and refuses to pay what is of t en an extor- , tionate claim, and goes to prison rather than do so. So that a respectable little home is completely broken up—the husband loses his situation, and the wife is left to shift as she can, and to rue her imprudence and love of finery. Such is not by any means an isolated case, for the same gentlema❑ adds—" You can have no idea of the extent to which the system is carried on in the north of England; sometimes we have 50 cases in one day of this kind. Another system which produces much the same results, though in a different manner, is the establishment of sales by auction of all sorts of articles, where the gco3s are sold on nine months' credit with a surety. The auctioneer, who is often attorney or his clerk, discounts the sale of an imme diate payment to the vendor, whereby the right to sue is transferred to the purchaser of the sale moneys,land the consequence is that nearly half the business of the county courts in certain counties is supplied by this auction system. It is certainly high time that the Legislature stepped in to remedy these abuses, and even in less oppressive cases the blame of the debt, as Lord WESTBURY pointed out, often rests quite as much with the debtor. No tradesman is justified in giving credit, when he knows his debtor is not likely to be able to pay him, unless he is willing to take the risk. To give credit for the sake of entrapping the debtor into toils from which he cannot escape, with a view to profiting by his difficulties, is a more dishonest pro ceeding than recklessly incurring debt. The real secret of the credit system is that the debtor has usually to pay 30 or 40 per cent. above the actual value, and its evil effects are innumerable. It en • courages the labouring man in those habits of im providence and self indulgence to which he is always too prone, and the first time that he gets into the County Court he is obliged to increase his liabilities elsewhere to meet the instalments, so that matters go from bad to worse. One very excellent clause in Lord WESTBURY'S measure sti pulates that no action shall he or judgment be given for any score for beer consumed on the premises of an alehouse or beershop. This will be a great pro : tection to the labouring man against the cupidity of tavernkeepers,:and will remove a formidable temptation out of his way. The Chancellor pro poses to abrogate entirely the judge's power to im prison a debtor who has the ability to pay, and power to imprison is given in cases of fraud or false pretences, but only under certain limits, and once for all as Lord WESTBURY expressed it. The judge, instead of being as at present obliged to confine hie attention to the case before him, is to be enabled to inquire into the whole state of the debtor's affairs, to bring before him all the creditors and to arrange that the sum fixed to be paid shall be paid into court, to be divided equally among them, so that henceforward, should this bill become law, the poor man will have a chance of being extricated from his embarrassments, however complicated, instead of as at present being liable to repeated terms of imprisonment at the mercy of the County Court Law or an unscrupulous creditor. Instead of in creasing the sums lost by bad debts, this measure will most probably reduce them very considerably, as is proved by the contrast afforded by the me chanics of the Enfield Rile Establishment and the soldiers at Colchester. A County Court Judge states that while numerous cases from the former are constantly coming before him he scarcely rememe bers to have seen a single private or non-commis sioned officer. The only reason he can give for this difference is that the publicans and other trades will not allow them to run deeply into debt, know ing they cannot imprison them. One very im portant alteration to be made by the Chancellor's Bill is the investiture of the County Curt Silage with summary equitable jurisdiction to be adminis. tered without delay or cumbrous forms. This will supply a great want, for although the County Court sysltem has been satirically termed " petty Chan cery," it is really incompetent to deal with equity cases, so that a disputed matter coming under that head is virtually left without a means of settlement; for, as the Lord Chancellor very truly said, the Court of Chancery, even in its improved condition, is a machine totally incapable of dealing with pro perty of a small amount. He gave as instance the case of £lOO left to be divided amongst relations, and of a quarrel between partners in a small coun try business—both instances in which the cum brous machinery of his own court would be altoge ther out of place. Yet such cases constantly arise for settlement. The Bill also undertakes to provide against the abuse of the power of resorting to the process of superior courts of law—a power which is now often need for purposes of extortion. Altoge ther this is certainly an important step in the right direction, and tends towards the great object of making the law as simple, clear, and prompt, and economical for all classes as it can possibly be ren dered without defeating the ends of justice. The valuable services render( d. by the Cotton Supply Association in encouraging and promoting the culture of the cotton plant in many new locali ties, besides stimulating it in the old quarters, ha s long been generally felt. An association of this kind is able easy to accomplish what many are glad to see done, but cannot easily do alone. It is able to command some degree of official attention and assistance, and to carry out in a consistent and businesslike manner many views and theories , which, if propounded by a private individual,would be contradicted or disregarded. It receives a full account of the progress of the crops, the capabili ties of climate, soil, and population in each respec. tive quarter, and by its timely grants of seed and gifts of machinery, &a., it affords every opportunity to enterprise and industry. It is highly satis factory to find that in many places the Governments perceive the importance of the trade and enoaurage the people to attempt the cotton culture. In others the populace themselves are excited by the nova of neighbouring successes, such as has been the case in Jaffa, where the success of the cotton planters last year has filled the whole place with excitement and emulation. High prices were obtained for the crop of last season, and everything seems to indi cate an equally agreable result this year. An English ship has lately taken from Jaffa 1,400 bales of ewt. each. Such being the freight of only one vessel, we may readily imagine that the cotton crop has proved most satisfactory to its planters in that quarter. From India the news is only confirmatory of the gradually dawning opinion that she will hereafter become, in a great measure, our prin cipal source of supply. One correspondent of the Association sends a sample of cotton grown in India by a European near Kandeish, which ho states was obtained from ground prepared in the usual manner, excepting that, instead of merely scratching the surface, it was turned up to a depth of 8 inches. The yield of cotton was 2251 b.. per begah, which is reckoned at about two-thirds of an English acre. This cultivator is very enterprising, for he has 400 acres of the same land ploughed for cotton next season, as well as 1,000 acres cleared, Another gentleman, writing from Calcutta, asserts that the trespass of cattle interferes very much with the cotton cultivation in Bengal. Ho asks for an act to protect it from this drawback, which applica tion it would be well to regard, since anything that puts hindrances in the way of the great experiment, or tends to disgust the indolent Hindoo with the attempt, is a very serious evil. Alexandria has shipped twice the quantity of cotton that she did last year, while Greece, the Piz was, Crete, and other places, are likely to be tried by members or connections of this useful association. So, then, we have little reason to look forward with apprehen sion to the future of our cotton crop or the support of our cotton spinners, since almost every quarter of the habitable globe has been made the subject of inquiry and experiment, and many districts are not only equalling but far s urpassing the most sanguine expectations. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OFF HELIGOLAND. A telegram has been received at the Colonial office to the effact that at two o'clock p.m. on Sun day there was a naval engagement, six miles east of He ligoland,between three Austrian frigates and three gunboats and three Danish frigates and one eor• vette. A later telegraw announces that the Danes were victorious; that an Austrian frigato was in flames, and the other frigates, with the gunboats, were making for Heligoland. The Aurora was there. BERLIN, MAY 9. The following telegrams have been received here this evening ; " HELIGOLAND, May 9, 4 p.m. " A very severe engagement, lasting an hour and a half, has taken place betweon three Danish frigates and the German squadron. An Austrian frigate appears to be in flames, and is approaching the island, accompanied by all the German ships, while the Danes are steering northwards. " 5 p.m. " The whole Danish fleet is at anchor behind Sand Islana. The fire on board the Austrian fri. gate has been extinguished. She lost her foremast and bowsprit." DETAILS OF THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OFF HELIGOLAND. HELIGOLAND, MAY 9, 9 P.M. The Austrian frigate which was set on fire and lost her foremast and bowsprit in the naval engage ment of to-day was the Schwarzenberg. She had 100 men killed and wounded. On board the Radetzky 25 men were killed and wounded. The Prussian ships have not sustained much injury. The combined squadron is now lying at anchor in the roads. It is said the Danes have also suffered severely. They are proceeding in a northerly direction. Gallery of Illustration, Last night Mr. and Mrs. German Reed produced a new allegorical seance, entitled "The Bard and his Birthday," a Shaksperian romance, by William Brough. A musical composer having obtained permission to compose a cantata in Shakapere's honour for performance on the bard's birthday, is overjoyed at the favour, and is pursuing his task with great earnestness. He has, however, been in the chief apartment but a very short time, when he is annoyed by the entrance of a talkative old woman who wants to dust the place. In her labour of putting things to rights she places everything to wrongs for the enthusiastic composer; but after some time he gets rid of her, and commences play ing cn the piano some of the music from " M ac b e th," 'gm, when a vision of Rosalind appears, and h ere we " Macbeth ;" th en have the Cuckoo Song. This is follow e d b y another, vanizo.t,hoenrefroofmth"eANsV You itch Like I Witches', from Touchstone ; and finally one from "The Tempest," Ari e l s i ng i ng " Where the bee sucks." The illustrations are all artistically embodied by Mrs. German Reed, and it is needless to say the music is rendered with the greatest taste and skill. 317. Reed takes part now and then in the vocal portions of the entertainment, but he shines rather as an iasiramentalist than as a singer. The little trifle was remarkable success ful, and will no doubt prove highly attractive. The War Contributions in Jutland. COPENHAGEN, May 6. The following particulars of the requisitions made by the Prussians in North Jutland have been re ceived here : " On the 26th of April the enemy entered Viborg, a town containing 4,900 inhabitants, with from 8,000 to 10,000 men ; quarters were demanded for 5,000 men and stabling for 1,500 horses in the town ; the remainder of the force withdrew to the surrounding villages lying north and east. The Commander-in-Chief, General I‘l mister, immediately issued a proclamation, which was posted up in the streets, demanding that the requisitions made should be willingly rendered as productive of least inconvenience to both parties. The intendant de manded the immediate delivery of 19,6001 b bread, 60,0001 b oats, 3801 b of roasted coffee, 2,7001 b rice, 380 bottles of wine, 1,200 bottles of brandy, 3,000 cigars, 1,3001 b tobacco, 25,0001 b hay, and 11,000 lb straw. For the next day, and daily until further notice, the following articles were required ;-3801b roasted coffee, 11,000 lb fresh beet or 5,000 bacon, either fresh or smoked, or 7,0001 b, if salted ; 3001 b salt, 19,6601 b bread, 7,0001 b peas, or 2,70011) rice, or 3,6001 b groats, or one-third of each kind, 380 bottles of wine, 1,200 bottles of brandy, 3,000 cigars, 1,3001 b tobacco, 29,0001 b oats, 25,0001 b hay, and 11,000 straw ; 40 to 50 carts were also ordered to be placed daily at the disposition of the intendant. In order to ap portion these requisitions upon Viborg and the vicinity, which, it may be stated, were utterly impossible to be complied with, the Amtmann im mediately sent expresses to all the authorities in the neighbourhood, requesting their presence. If the requisition was not furnished the Prussians thr3atened pludder, although it is a fact patent to everybody that the demands, especially of hay, straw, and bread, could not by any possibility be fulfilled." The Aalborgpasten states that upon the night of April 30 the enemy endeavoured to throw a large force to the west, towards INcl Skov, but, after he had reconnoitred the country, retreated, as was stated, for fear of an ambuscade. Upon the let inst. the Prussian outposts were three quarters of a mile to the north of Halm, the town being occu pied by two infantry regiments and troops of other arms. The share, of Habro (a town contain ing 1,900 inhabitants) to the great contribution was assessed at 24,000 Danish rigsdalers; but the corporation had declared that the town would be utterly incapable of collecting more than 5,000, which was reported to Field. Marshal Wrangel. The following supplies Were also de manded from the town :-I,ooolb. bread, 3001 b, roasted coffee, 400 bottles wine, 1,200 bottles brandy, 25,0001 b. hay (they contented themselves with 17,0001 b., no more being procurable), 11,000 lb. straw, and 7001 b. tobacco, all to be deli vere d b y the morning of May 1. In addition were required -B,ooolb. meat or 4,0001 b. bacon, 290 bottles wine, 7801 b. coffee, 900 bottles brandy, 3801 b. salt, 40,000:b. bread, I,BSOlb, rice, or 5,0001 b. peas or groats, a0,000.b. oats, 11,3001 b. hay, B,ooolb, straw, 9401 b. tobacco, and 2,300, all, together with the 24,000 rigadalers, to be delivered within 48 hours. Further reqr.isitions for supplies were also made in the vicinity. RATLWAYS TN THE CITY.—Let us us now return to Bridge-street, end take notes of progress there. The railway is being fast pushed towards Ludgate-hill, and in its course has made a bold plunge through a thicket of ancient edifices, which it has replaced with colossal arches, with girder bridges to cross the thoroughfares, and will very shortly be sufficiently finished to allow of the passage of locomotives to its junction with the Metropolitan at Smithfield. In its way thither it has swallowed up Water• lane, and provided a new thoroughfare in place of it. Apo thecaries Hall, heretofore hidden !torn vulgar eyes, and known only to young aspirants for medical honours and news-boys on their way to the Times office, is laid bare, robbed of its seclusion, and made to tell the tale of its shabby frontage, which in these days is considerably inferior to the standard of a second class warehouse. All this portion of the railway, from the great depot and station at Holland street, Blackfriars, to the Fleet Prison, is nearly on a dead level. The necessity of passing ov er L u d ga t e -hill at a height of 18 feet does not allow of any co ns id era ble drop from the high level at which the railway p asses ove r the river, but from Ludgate-hill the descent i s as rap id as is consistent with safety, for a few yard s nor th o f th a t po i n t the railway will descend into the bowels of the earth to form a junction with the Metropolitan, so that there are some very interest ing matters here for the observation and admiration of people who take interest in engineering accomplishments. As for the bridge near Ludgate-hill, it promises to be a much more ornamental affair than the public expected, and some hint of its future aspect may be obtained from an inspection of the abutments which are already finished. It will be noticed that in these abutments are small arched doorways, having no vi s ibl e connection w ith the necessities of the railway. Th ese are compensat i on s given by the company to the publi c f or t h e use of an i m portant site, for they are entrance s t o s t a i rcases which are to communicate with footways across the railway bridge, which will enable pedestrians to cross Ludgate-hill without having to fight their way among horses' heads and carriage wheels as now, at the constant risk of destruction to life and limb. Pro bably, when this means of crossing comes fairly into ope ration, it miy prove of such utility as to lead the way to the spanning o f many o f t h e most dange rous City crossings with high girde r b r id ges f or f oot passeng ers only, without reference to railway works. THE HON. MRS. YELTERTON AND HER. LONDON AGENTS.—Mrs. Yelverton has addressed the follow ing letter to the Caled on i an Me rcur y .•—" Sir,—Will you kindly allow me a small space in your columns to correct an error which may lead to blame being attached to the wrong person. You state, I believe, that the money ordered by the House of Lords to be paid to mo by my husband has been arrested by my own agents in London. Mr. Simson, of Abingdon•street, is my pres en t a gent in the appeal, and the public may suppose that it is he who is alluded to by you, whereas it is my late agents, Mr. Stein aid a Mr. Smith, who have retained the money. As your paragraph has obtained publicity in other journals, I shall be glad if those papers will also insert this lettor.—l am, THERESA YELVERTON. 20, C a mbridge-terrace, Hyde park, London, May 6, 1861." GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.--The Government emigrant ship Wanata, 1,442 tons, Capt. Murphy, belonging to Messrs. James Baines and Co., Liverpool, sailed from the Mersey on the 6th inst. for Sydney, New South Wales, having on board 405 Government emigrants, comprising 30 married couples, 119 single men, 145 single women, 23 boys and 21 girls between one and 12 years of age, and seven infants, in all equal to 376 statute adults, under the care of Mr. William Holman, surgeon superin tendent, assisted by Miss M, A. Beall, mAtront ROME. RFSTORATION OF THE POPE'S HEALTH. NOME, MAY 9. A Pontifical resolution authorises the emission of 2,500,000 francs consols, bearing interest at 5 per cent. The indisposition of the Pope has ceased, THE PRINCIPALITIES. BUCHAREST, MAY 29. Prince Couza has returned to this city. Popular manifestations took place in his honour this evening. FRANCE. A council of Ministers was held on Saturday at the Tuileries, the Emperor presiding. The fete given in the Garden of the Tuileries to the youthful members of the Societe du Prince Im perial took place yesterday, and was favoured by delightful weather. A long table, amply provided with cakes and fruits of all kinds, was laid out along the Allee de l'Orangerie, and attracted the marked attention of the juvenile guests. The furnishers of lemonade and other refreshing drinks were in great requisition. Punch and Judy theatres, tumblers, and other amusements commanded numerous and delighted audiences. The two military bands added to the gaiety of the scene by playing lively morceaux. The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince Imperial came into the garden a little after two; her Majesty leading the young Prince, and the Emperor giving his arm to the Princess Clotilda. The Imperial party, attended by the ladies of the palace and the officers on duty, walked down the middle alley. Their Majesties had some difficulty in making their way, the dense crowd saluting them with loud cheers. They re turned to the palace at half-past three, but the Prince remained in the garden for another hour in the midst of the youthful crowd. The Prince enjoyed himself evidently with the children, and when looking at the exhibitions appeared highly delighted. Tho number of grown-up persons pre sent was exceedingly great. BOURSE, May 9.—The favourable effect which might have been produced by the arrival of English Console with a rise of I, has been neutralised by the announcement of a further advance in the rate of discount by the Bank of France. The market has, however, maintained Saturday's prices, Threes, for the Account, being now unvaried at Of. 55c. Mobilier, after improving to 1,1551., is now also unchanged'at 1,140 f. Railway Market quiet, but firm. Lombard ar3 quoted ex div. 20f. The mar ket closed as follows : 4t per Conts. 93 20 Do. out month 3 per Cants Do. end month 66 60 Italian Loan 6B 70 Do. end month 6B 70 New ditto — Credit Mobilier.... 1137 60 Do. end m0nth....1142 50 Do. end month Russian Austrian Bank Shares 3350 Spanish Threes Horne Debt Deferred - f AlrB. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern Lyons and Mediterranean 802 50 .. 890 New ditto ... Southern 642 50 .. 645 Western Eastern .... Sardinian 367 50 .. 366 25 Austrian Lou , bard North of Spain Saragossa.. Ditto to Barcelona Credit Foncior 1240 Roman 77 KA IL GEORGE lII.'S OPINION OF SHAKSPERE.-" Was there ever," said he to Miss Burney—" was there ever such stuff as great part of Shakspere ? Only one must not say so I" GARIBALDL—To have done one tenth of what Garibaldi has done, a man must necessarily have thrown abide scruples which he would never have probably transgressed in his ordinary life. He must have been often arbitrary, and sometimes almost cruel ; and yet, ask his followers, and they will tell you that punishment scarcely existed in the force under his immediate command—that the most hardened offender would have quailed more under a few stern words of reproof from "the General" than from a sentence that sent him to prison. That, to effect his pur pose, he would lay hands on what he needed, not recklessly or indifferently, but thoughtfully and doubtless regretfully, we all know. I can remember an instance of this kind, related to me by a British naval officer, who himself was an actor in the scene. "It was off La Plata," said my informant, "when Garibaldi was at war with Rosas, that the frigate I commanded was on that station, as well as a small gun brig of the Sdrdinian navy. whose captain never harassed his men by exercises of gunnery, and, indeed, whose ship was as free from any ' beat to quarters,' or any sudden summons to prepare for boarders as though she had been a floating chapel. Garibaldi came alongside me one day to say that he had learned the Sardinian had several tons of powder on board, with an ample supply of grape, shell, and canister, not to speak of twelve hundred stand of admirable arms. ' I want them all,' said he ; 'my people arc fighting with staves and knives, and aro totally out of ammunition. I want them, and he won't let me have them.' He could scarcely do so,' said I, 'seeing that they belong to his Government, and aro not in his hands to bestow.' For that reason I must go and take them,' said Garibaldi. I mean to board him this very night, and you'll see if we do not replenish our powder flasks.' In that case,' said I, ' 1 shall have to fire on you. It will he piracy ; nothing else. You'll not do so ?' said he, smiling. ' Yes, I promise you that I will. We are at peace and ,on good terms with Sardinia, and 1 cannot behave ether than as a friend to her ships :of war. There's no help for it, then,' said Garibaldi, if you see the thing in that light;' and good-humouredly quitted the subject, and soon after took his leave." " And were you," asked I of my informant, Captain 5 " were you perfectly easy after that conversation ? I mean, were you fully satisfied that he would not attempt the matter in some other way ?" " Never more at ease in my life. I knew my man; and that, having left me under the conviction he had aban doned the exploit, nothing on earth would have tempted him to renew it in any ehape,"—Blaciwoofre Magazine.: Garibaldi and the Volunteer Movement, At a dinner at Beaufort-house, Walham-green, on Friday evening, in connection -with a drill competition among the South Middlesex Rifles, Cal. MaMurdo, in replying to the toast of the" Volun teers of Great Britain," said it had been his good fortune to have the opportunity of paying a visit to that great character who had recently visited this country. They, of course, knew that he alluded to General Garibaldi. The object for which he sought that interview was, in the first place, to glean his opinion of the English Volunteer movement, and to ascertain, from his practical experience, how a Volunteer force was likely to act on the field, and in the face of an enemy, as. although he knew the pluck and the spirit which animated the British Volunteers, h© had never seen them in this position. With regard to the first point, he was much struck with what the gallant veteran said. Garibaldi sail, when asked his opinion of the English Volunteer movement, " Oh, what a glorious, what a happy country this is, which can find its citizens to stand out boldly as they do as Volunteers for the defence of the nation ; and what a noble Constitution yon must possess, when the Government have the courage to sanction and the people to claim and to possess such a glorious institution as your English Volunteers! I would to God that the same sentiments and the same feeling would animate the Government and people of my own beloved country." He then ex plained to the General some of the points of, the constitution of ~the Volunteer force of this country, and informed him that, although he had frequently seen and knew the valour of our regular troops in the field before an enemy, still that he had never seen Volunteers in such a posi tion, and desired to ask him how he had found them in such a position with regard to discipline. He replied that he never found any difficulty on that score. If the men found they had a bad or disorderly character among them, one who dis obeyed orders, or who was prone to pilfering or any misdeeds, they dealt with him, and he was at once expelled. He then asked him what he did when he found himself in the presence of the royal army of Naples with his Volunteers, no doubt dis ciplined troops—did he wait for their attack, or himself take the offensive ? General Garibaldi re plied that he always took the offensive. He always found success attend him in making the attack him self and not waiting for it. When he landed on the coast of Sicily with his thousand men they were nearly all raw recruits and badly armed, and, though they were crying out for drill, he found he had no time for that, but pushed on, and the first encounter they had was with Bavarian and Swiss regiments. All the orders he gave to his volunteers were not to fire at long distances, but to wait, whatever the consequences might be, till they were close to the enemy, so as to make good their aim. On coming in front of the Bavarian and Swiss regiments his orders wera rigidly obeyed, until he gave the word to fire, and when he heard the irregular " tick, tick, tick," all down his ranks, he was fully convinced that with such a firing they could not maintain their ground that he at once gave the order for the advance and the use of the bayonet. His Garibaldians rushed upon the enemy with loud vivas, and. scattered the disciplined soldiers of Naples in all directions. If such could be done with those raw recruits without drill, and with the bad arms of the volunteers which Garibaldi had under his command, he begged to say, without any flattery, that with their excellent arms, their efficiency in drill, and with their spirit and courage, in the hands of the volunteers of Great Britain this country was perfectly safe from any attempted invasion, let it come from whatever quar ter it would. The Cultivation of Cotton in Egypt, In the Times' City Article we find the following information respecting the cultivation of cotton in Egypt :—" According to the mercantile advices from Egypt, the cotton still to come forward from the last crop was not estimated at morn than 9 .00,000 cwt. and it is consequently believed the amount of gold to be supplied from England during the next few months will not be very large. The entire crop of last season, it eppears, was about 1,500,000 cwt., and was, therefore, less than had bee❑ anticipated. The opinion expressed by experienced persons more than a year ago that the amount of gold or silver that would be hoarded by the fellahs and buried in the ground would not be so great as was apprehended, and that the practice would gradually diminish with the progress of good government, seems to be in course of realisation. In proportion as they have become possessors of larger sums they have acquired a taste for expenditure, and they now buy silks, jewels, and all kinds ofluxuries, which are consequently imported in large quantities. At the same time, the importation of cattle this year from France, Italy, Austria, and Turkey, as well of machinery, railway material, vessels, &c., has in a great degree counterbalanced the specie require ments which would otherwise have made the drain more serious from England and other countries that have to pay for cotton. For the next year the prospects of trade are de ecribed to be most favourable, and such has been the impetus given by the enlightened tendencies of the Viceroy, and the profits of last year's crops, that those who have lately returned to Egypt, after having been absent but for a few months, state the alteration to be be yond anything they could have hoped. b' There seems," says one writer, " to reign a general ease and cheerfulness which was never known before. At Alexandria and in the interior chimneys are visible everywhere, and machinery and engines are in active work. Mansourah, one of the largest towns of Lower Egypt and the centre of the cotto❑ districts, looks like a manufacturing town in Europe. There are many cotton gins in operation there, and locomotives for working pumps are being placed in all directions en the banks of the Nile." The cattle murrain, it is added, will actually have conferred benefit from the way in which it has forced the people to the use of machinery, encou raged by the Government, who have imported large quantities and given them to cultivators. It is for irrigation purposes that the use of pumps driven by locomotives is found especially advantageous, and even the fellahs are now beginning to clamour for their increaeed application. The rate of discount in Alexandria remains at 7 to 9 per cent. Money is employed in advances to cultivators on. cereals and new cotton crops as well as in land and Government securities. Many people also buy cattle and machinery, and the intercourse being much greater than formerly the cash in circulation passes through a great number of hands before it gets back to Alexandria. The complaints against the administration of the Alexandria and Suez Railway have continued to be general, and, although the inconvenience was attri butable to almost uncontrollable circumstances, it was not the less annoying and severe. The Viceroy, it is said, has now, to the satisfaction of everyone, named the most able man in the country for the task, Abderachman Rouchdi Bey, director general of the railway, with unlimited power to do what he thinks necessary, Mr. Rouse, an Englishman fami liar with engineering works in Egypt, being at the same time appointed Inspector-General of the line." WIGAN.—The returns both of the Guardians and the Relief Committee again show a very great de crease as compared with the preceding reports. Ihe Com mittee have now on their books 4 819 persons, to whom the sum of £293 17s was paid last week. This is a decrease of 160 cases, or 440 persons, and of 11 in the cost on the return presented to the Committee a fortnight ago. The guardians are relieving 4,437 persons, and their experzditure is £2BB 13s 7d—a decrease of 90 persons, and of Li 6s 4d, as compared with last week. THE ENOUSH POREOPOLIS.--A farmer near Dorchester has now the enormous number of 3,000 piv• He breeds and purchases to keep up his stock. One week he bought 600 pigs. They are fed partly on wheat. According to the Wiltshire Mirror, there are now 101 Roman Catholics in the British Parliament -68 in the House of Peers, and 33 in the House of Commons I NEW ACT OF UNION RELIEF.--All act of Pur liament has just been printed to extend the provision of the Union Relief Aid Acts. The power of the Poor-law Board to issue orders under the acts is to determine on the Ist of July next. cErt , _ 61114 kliJlLtitat • HER MAJESTY, WINDSOR CASTLE, May 9. The Queen, their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, and Prin cess Beatrice, left Osborne at half-past two o'cicclr. this afternoon, and arrived at Windsor Castle at six. The suite in attendance consisted of the Dowager Countess of Mount-Edgcunlb2, the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, the Hon. Lucy Lyttelton, Lieut.- General the Hon. C. Grey, Colonel the Hon. Sir Cherles Phipps, Lard Alfred Paget, Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge, and Mr. Buff. The Hon. Emily Cathcart has arrived at the CJstle as maid of honour. Viscount Torrington and Sir W. Hoste have also arrived as Lord and Groom in Waiting to her Majesty. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive yes terday, attended by the Hon. Mre. W. Grey. :rhe Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords in the afternoon. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at tended by Colonel Teesdale, was present during the per formance of Shakspere's " Henry the Fourth" at Drury lane Theatre last evening. THE LITTLE STRAND THEATRE was on Friday night honoured by a visit from the Prince of Wales, after leaving the House of Lords, His Excellency Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne entertained a distinguished party at dinner yesterday even ing at the French Embassy. The guests present included the Earl and Countess Russell and Lady Georgiana Russell, the Earl and Countess de Grey, the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, General the Hon. Sir Edward Cust, Major- General F. W. Hamilton, C.B , and Mrs. Hamilton, Frances Countess Waldegrave and the Right Hon. C, Fortescue, M.P., Hon. Wm, Stewart, Mr. and Lady Elizabeth Adeane, the Marquis and Marchioness de Cadore, the Marquis d'Andigne, the Marquis Caumont la Force, Viscount de Ccurval, and Viscount Contades. The Earl and Countess of Granard have left the Palace Hotel for their seat, Castle Forbes, Ireland. The Countess of Desert will arrive in London from Ireland to morrow. Tie Countess of Yarborough's party is appointed for the 16th, and not the 18th, as stated. The Countess of Haddington and the Hon. H. B. Hamilton have left Farrance'a Hotel for the continent. The Earl of Had lington has returned to Scotland. The Earl and Countess of Cork had a dinner party yesterday evening at their residence in Grafton-street. There were present the Marchioness of Downshire and Lady Alice Hill, Maria Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Earl and Countess of Bessborough, Earl Annersley, Lord Dun kellin, Lord and Lady Stanley of Alderley, Mr. C. Greville, Mr. and Mrs. H. Baring, Mr. Beaumont, M,P., &c. GRAND FETE AT CHISIVICK.—On Friday and Saturday week a fele of au extraordinary nature will be held in the magnificent grounds of the Duchess of Sutherland, at Chiswick, in behalf of Poland, and her sick and wounded soldiers. The ladies of all ranks in that un fortunate country having given their jewellery for disposal for the purpose of raising funds to alleviate the sufferings of their wounded countrymen; their sale will commence on the day above mentioned, the stalls-being presided over by the Duchess Dowager of Sutherland, Viscountess Palmer ston, the Marchionesses of Waterford and Townshend, the Countesses of Shaftesbury, Charlemont, and Airlie, the Viscountess Grey deWilton, and many other leaders of the beau monde. The occasion is an extraordinary one, and we hope the proceeds will be worthy the noble object all taking part in the fete have in view. THE IRISH ROMAN CATHOLICS AND MR. SOMES'S SUNDAY CLOSING BILL.--The following address is published in the Irish papers :—" To members of Parlia ment representing Irish constituencies.—We, the under signed archbishops, bishops, and clergy of Ireland, most respectfully intimate to the Irish members of the House of Commons that we believe it would be highly conducive to public order, to morality, aad to religion if the Sunday traffic in intoxicating liquors were prohibited by law, We, therefore, entreat their support of Mr, Smiles's motion on the 6th May, for effecting that object.-1 - Paul Cullen,D.D , C. Archbishop of Dublin—Voseph Dixon, D.D., C. Arch bishop of Armagh and Primate—tD. O'Brien, D.D., C. Bishop of weiterf..a —TM. 0' ilea, D.D,, C. Bishop of [loss—tiohn Kilduff, D.D., C. Bishop of Ardagh—tP. Duncan, D.D., C. Bishop of Achonry—fFrancis Kelly, D.D., C. Bishop of Derry—Hamilton Verschoyle, D.D Bishop of Kilmore—t L. Gillooly, D.D., C. Bishop of Elphin—tT. Furlong, D.D., C. Bishop of Ferns—t John M'Evi:ly, D.D,, C. Bishop of Galway—William Whelan, D. D., C. Bishop—William Meagher, V.G., P.P., of Dub lin—B. Woodlock, Rector of the Catholic University of Ireland—James Canon Redmond, P.P., Arklow—James Murray, D.D., Secretary to the Archbishop of Dublin—A. O'Connell, D.D., P.P. of St. Mary's, Dublin—M. Quinn, D.D.—John Spratt, D.D., Provincial of Ireland. A VALUABLE DEAD LETTER.—The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon has been known to receive as many as 100 letters in a day. Many of them are anonymous, and on many the postage is not prepaid. The rev, gentleman now refuses all the latter. One of these a short time ago, after having been in the dead letter-office and opened there, was sent again to Mr Spurgeon, with a statement that the letter was anonymous, and therefore could not be returned to the writer, and that it contained a valuable enclosure The rev, gentleman paid the postage , and found a £2O note in the letter. LONG BILLS.—The Attorney-General laid before the Hones of Commons last month a bill of 321 clauses, filling 80 folio pages, with 15 more occupied by a table of contents—the bill to Consolidate and amend tha Church-building and New Parishes Acts. The Irish Attorney-General has now brought in a bill of 383 clauses, filling altogether 135 folio pages, a bill for the Amendment of the Practice and Pleading in the Common Law Courts at Dublin. MACKEREL.—Daring the past week enermnus quantities of mackerel have, as during the previous week, been transmitted from Cornwall to the metropolitan and other markets, On Wednesday alone the quantity of fish sent off per rail exceeded 70 tons. The Mount's Bay boats have been again very fortunate. One boat took about 10,000, and many averaged from 5,000 to 7,000 each. Splendid mackerel ware sold at Newlyn on Wednesday night as low as 4s per six score, The catches on Thursday and Friday were not large. The old fishermen do not remember such large catches of makerel as have been taken during the past fortnight or three weeks in any previous similar period. The sea south-west of the Scilly Isles is said to be almost of a blood colour with the vast shoals of mackerel under the water. An east country boat lost her nets on Tuesday night, and on Thursday found them with 4 ,000 fish enclosed. The local markets on Saturday were al,,un dandy supplied. PRESIDENT LINCOLN.—" Manhattan" says—' have good news from the President. He is getting in a healthy condition. Facing the rivers of blood that fire soon to flow in Virginia, he has not perpetrated a joke for two weeks. lie says that if he is saved from Lee this hitch ho will never make fun any more. The cradle in which Mr. Lincoln was rocked when a babe has been given by him to the Baltimore Fair. Many ladies who are in an interesting situation are anxious to get it, hoping that it will rock more future Presidents. ROSSINI AND MEYERBEER. -- Rossini having learned on Monday morning that Meyerbeer had been rather worse the evening before went to the Rue Mon taigne to learn how the patient had passed the night. En tering the house, he inquired of the concierge how M. Meyerbeer was that morning. Without any precaution the man replied that the great composer was dead. Akt this terrible anmuncement the visitor staggered and would have fallen had not the other supported him. He remains d for nearly ten minutes incapable of movement, and whe n he recovered a little, requested to see a member of the family. One of Meyerbeer's daughters came down, and Rossini, when he saw her, burst into tears and embraced her affec tionately. He spoke at great length of the deceased, And it was a considerable time before he was in a state to return to his own residence. Rossini and Meyerbeor had been ac quainted for upwards of 50 years. MONTENEGRINE WomEN.—Unquestionably in Montenegro, woman is the chief beast of burden and the hardest worker of the two sexes; she is in fact the slave of the man ; but though humble, she is not humi liated; she is respected in and from her chastity. For this reason, and because of her being of the weaker sex, and therefore never attacked by a stronger, a woman is. always given to the traveller as a guide : wo be to the stranger who should attempt to take advantage of her weakness. We have seen that even the life of the prince will be taken should the honour of a Montenegrine woman be outraged ; and I believe that most of the Montenegrincs have the same feeling as that of the true Bedouin, that no woman who is not of their blood and bit thplace is good though to Lecotne his wife. Like the Bedouin, the husband walks or rides first ; the woman follows, carrying the goods and chattels of the family, or the burden of the traveller : she labours in the field while he roams over the mountains or cleans his arms. Naturally, from this mode of life, the women of Tserna Gora are not remarkable for beauty—they arc bony and robust, and they look old at a very early ago. Their complexions are dark and muddy.—The Eastern Shores of the Adriatic, by Viscountess Strangford. ACTS OF PARLIAMENT.—Up to the 28th ult. only 12 public acts were passed in the present section, and only a few local statutes. 1) BPal - Di ~B v ie, J2:17:1 4 ,t151 416e1 p 1)1 1t - i Ii ti 4